Cities

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

I heard that there was a day last week to celebrate military spouses!   Obviously, it wasn’t celebrated in my house, because we had no idea.  But one thing that I have learned in my time as a military spouse is that it is important to recognize the sacrifices that the entire family makes to support their loved ones who serve.  I have seen the sacrifices that my friends make every day and it is not always easy (actually, it is rarely easy).  The women that I have met are some of the most independent strong amazing women I know and I am so proud to be on this military spouse journey with them!  
My brother sent this to me and I wanted to share it with you.  It is a poem that was posted on some military blogs last week.  As I was reading, I kept finding myself laughing at the truth of the words.  So, even though it is a little late, thank you military spouses for all that YOU do!
Lots of moving...Moving...Moving...Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house;
Moving curtains that won't fit. Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends. Moving toward new friends.
Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...Waiting...Waiting... Waiting for housing, Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments. Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions. Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home, for dinner...AGAIN!

They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.
She can balance a check book; handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet; bury the family pet...
She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes, sell a house, buy a car;
Or set up a move...all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS; locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'. She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...They leap into:
Decorating, Leadership, Volunteering, Career alternatives, Churches,
and friendships. They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible. They plant annuals for themselves and
perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other: they connect over coffee,
rely on the spouse network, accept offers of friendship and favors.
record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond. The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands;
his commitment is unique. He doesn't have a 'JOB.' He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7. But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign: TDY, PCS, OPR, SOS, ACC, BDU, ACU, BAR, CIB, TAD...
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments. She wants to wring his neck,
Dye his uniform pink, refuse to move to Siberia, but she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days, a travel brochure, a long hot bath, a pledge to the flag,
a wedding picture, and she goes, she packs, he moves, she follows.

Why? What for? How come? You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart. It was stolen from her by a man,
who puts duty first, w
ho longs to deploy, who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband,
she will remain his military wife and would have it no other way.

Love my military spouses!



2 comments:

  1. What a great post and poem Casey!! Happy belated Military Spouse Day! (I found myself relating to some of the poem as I think about our recent move and Jason's line of work!)

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    1. Thanks so much, Erica! I know that you know how it is with Jason's job - esp with the moves and taking care of everything :) You do such a great job!

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